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==CH to hire additional manpower==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2015/01/31/ch-hire-additional-manpower-389563
*Saturday, January 31, 2015
:By Razel V. Cuizon
THE Cebu City Government is set to form its own project team to supervise the implementation of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project.
It will also come up with the City’s counterpart on the implementation of the project.
In its regular session last week, the City Council approved the project proposal on the detailed engineering design (DED) and social impact management project team of the BRT project.
Under the project proposal prepared by its chief, Rafael Christopher Yap, the City will hire five engineers and five social workers that will compose the City’s project team for BRT.
:Cost
Yap said this will cost the City P5.5 million, which it will charge to the City Traffic Operations Management budget.
“With the pending implementation of the project, there is a need to hire five technical personnel that will work hand in hand with the DED consultancy in building capacity for the Cebu City Government to learn the aspects of BRT design and implementation,” the resolution read.
Yap said that since the BRT project is new to the country, the City needs to hire technical people to observe the system.
“We don’t have the expertise that’s why we need to hire these people and let them learn the whole thing,” he said.
The team will also makie sure that there will be no delay in the implementation of the project once it will start since they will monitor it, Yap added.
:Stakeholders
As for the social workers, they will be tasked to conduct social impact management that will coincide with the approved social management plan for the stakeholders, which are set to be affected by the BRT project.
Public utility vehicles and establishments along the BRT route are among those that will be affected by the project’s implementation.
The BRT project will start in Barangay Bulacao in the south, passing through the Cebu Business Park, and head to Barangay Talamban in the north.
The engineers and the social workers will become job-order employees of the City for a year, as stated under the project proposal.
The P10.6-billion BRT project is expected to be operational by 2017.
==City Council approves raise in city scholars’ allowance==
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2015/01/30/1418342/city-council-approves-raise-city-scholars-allowance
*Friday, January 30, 2015 12:00 am
:By Glenda B. Tapang (The Freeman)
CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City scholars will get an additional P500 allowance per semester in the next school year after the City Council approved yesterday the amendatory ordinance sponsored by Councilor Alvin Dizon.
Dizon said the increase in the scholars’ stipend is already long overdue.
“This allowance is already a big help to our scholars” Dizon said.
Although the increase was not included in the 2015 annual budget, Dizon assured that it will be implemented starting school year 2015 to 2016.
“We will make a representation with the executive department nga isulod ni sa supplemental budget kay wala man gud ni maapil sa 2015 annual budget,” Dizon said.
Aside from the increase of the allowance, Dizon also pushes for innovation of the guidelines of the ordinance after the beneficiaries complained about the delay in the release of their allowance.
The delay in the compliance of the requirements by the scholarship coordinators and the schools was blamed on the delay of the release of the fund.
“We will also enjoin the executive department to release the allowance on time kay mao man nay problema in the past school years maong ato sab giusab ang guidelines sa ato scholarship program,” Dizon said.
Dizon reiterated that this amendment is a way to ensure and appropriate allowance responsive to the needs of the scholars.
In his amendment, he changed the term transportation to board and lodging expenses since this is more appropriate for beneficiaries from the mountain barangays.
Scholars from mountain barangays receive additional P500 per semester as transportation allowance aside from the P10,000 tuition fee and other related fees.
All scholars will be able to receive the P500 increase regardless of where they came from. The Cebu City scholarship program started in 2010.
==First Tañon Strait summit set in Cebu Feb. 10-12==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=729818
*Thursday, January 29, 2015
:(PNA), LAP/EB/PR/
CEBU CITY, Jan. 29 (PNA) -- Environmentalists, representatives from concerned agencies and civil society and the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape (TSPS) management will gather for the first Tanon Strait Summit to be held from February 10 to 12 this year in Cebu City.
Oceana Philippines, in a statement, said the summit will include meetings of hundreds of environmental advocates and members of the Protected Area Management Board (PMAB) of Tañon Strait.
The strait, located between Cebu and Negros islands, has been declared a protected marine area by then President Fidel Ramos on May 27, 1998.
Covering 521,018 hectares, Tañon Strait is said to be one of the 10 richest fishing grounds in the country today.
"With more than 350 members, the Tañon Strait PAMB has never held a general assembly due to its sheer size and conflicts between national agencies and local government units regarding jurisdiction and overlapping functions," said Protected Area Supervisor Viernov Grefalde in a statement.
Oceana said there are 126 smaller marine protected areas within Tañon Strait managed by the local government units.
Oceana said Tañon Strait is a hub for cetaceans, with at least 14 species of whales and dolphins.
It is also home for 26 species of mangroves, 18,830 hectares of coral reefs representing 15 families, and seven species of seagrass.
Studies in the strait also revealed that it has 70 species of fish and 20 species of crustaceans like squid, shrimp, clams, and crabs.
The protected area is also famous for its dolphins, which has become a tourist attraction in the Visayas.
"Convening the PAMB and holding the stakeholders' summit are bold, big and essential first steps to ensure governance in TSPS that is participatory, transparent, accountable, predictable and effective," said Oceana Philippines vice president Gloria Estenzo-Ramos.
==Cebu trade group to hold customer retention seminar on Jan. 30==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=729818
*Wednesday, January 28, 2015
:(PNA), FPV/ EB/PR/
CEBU CITY, Jan. 28 (PNA) -- The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and AGF Philippines will conduct a seminar on “Effective Customer Retention and Satisfaction” on Jan. 30, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Golden Valley Hotel on A. Pelaez St., Cebu City.
This is in line with CCCI’s commitment to develop programs to strengthen the capabilities of its members and in anticipation of the Asean Economic Integration this year, a press statement said.
Marketing managers, sales executives and customer relations supervisors will gain the knowledge and skills to manage their customers more effectively through the seminar, the statement said.
Research has shown that customer relationship management redounds to customer satisfaction and loyalty and leads to increasing revenues and long-term profitability.
Participants are expected to learn how to identify and assess customer expectations to meet customer need and set customer service standards to ensure that customers receive a consistent experience.
They are also expected to learn how to manage customer expectations to increase customer satisfaction, resolve issues in accordance with organizational procedures and maintain and improve relationships to enhance customer retention.
Registration fee is P2,250 for CCCI members; P2,500 for non-CCCI members and P2,000.00 per participant for a group of five or more.
The rates are inclusive of training/seminar kits, certificates of attendance, lunch and morning and afternoon snacks.
==Cebu City to go after delinquent businesses==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2015/01/27/cebu-city-go-after-delinquent-businesses-388776
*Tuesday, January 27, 2015
:By Princess Dawn H. Felicitas
ALMOST 1,000 business establishments in Cebu City failed to pay their taxes to the City Government during the three-week period set for them to settle their obligations.
Based on the records of the City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), only 24,368 business establishments paid their dues from Jan. 5 to Jan. 23. This is 926 short of the total 25,294 assessed businesses in the city.
Because of this, City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said her office will conduct a tax mapping to determine those that have not yet to settle their dues.
Once known, these establishments will receive demand letters from the City.
:Late charges
Those who failed to pay their taxes from Jan. 5 to Jan. 23 will have to pay a surcharge and a penalty that will be 25 percent of their total tax due and a two-
percent interest in the succeeding months.
Those who refuse to settle their obligations will be referred to the City Legal Office for appropriate legal action and sanctions, Cuevas said.
The CTO generated P640 million in revenues during the three-week period. The amount was higher compared to what the City collected last year (P596 million).
However, this year’s collection was way below the P5-billion target Mayor Michael Rama had set.
Cuevas, in an interview yesterday, said the mayor knew that the target amount could not be achieved.
She said they will just try to be more efficient in collecting taxes this year.
The money that the CTO generates will fund the City’s P13.4-billion approved budget this year.
The City’s 2015 annual budget is more than double the P5.89-billion annual budget last year.
==P90-M San Pedro Calungsod church to rise in Pulangbato, Cebu City==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2015/01/26/p90-m-san-pedro-calungsod-church-rise-pulangbato-cebu-city-388589
*Monday, January 26, 2015
:By Justin K. Vestil
A NEW church with a design inspired by St. John Paul II will soon rise in Barangay Pulangbato, Cebu City.
Despite the rain yesterday, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the proposed site of the St. Pedro Calungsod Church in Pulangbato. St. John Paul II is the parish’s second patron saint.
Present during the ceremony were parish priest Fr. Benjie Herrera, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, barangay officials and parishioners.
The church, which will cost about P89 million, will consist of the main congregation, function rooms, an adoration chapel and a columbary.
Once completed, the church can accommodate at least 700 parishioners.
In an interview yesterday, Herrera said they found the site after one of the residents, Flor Montebon, donated her 4,300-square-meter property to the parish.
Of the donated property, 1,200 square meters will be dedicated for the construction of the church.
The design of the church has been conceptualized by Architect Michael Torres of ArchiGlobal Inc., who offered his services for free as his way of helping the parish.
In a separate interview, Torres said that he came up with a design similar to a bishop’s mitre. A mitre is the ceremonial headdress of bishops and other high-ranking clergymen of the Catholic Church.
Torres said that the design is based on St. John Paul II, who visited Cebu when he was Pope.
Aside from providing his services for free, Torres assured that he would donate a tabernacle for the new church.
Herrera said that as of yesterday, the parish collected some P3 million for the construction of the proposed church. These came from the regular collections during masses and donations from some parishioners.
During the ceremony, Rama said that he will donate some cash for the parish.
The church was created during a canonical erection conducted on Dec. 7, 2013. Aside from Pulangbato, Barangays Pit-os and Binaliw are also under the parish’s jurisdiction.
While the proposed church has yet to be constructed, a makeshift chapel has been built at the site.
==CCCI to hold workshop on customer satisfaction==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/business/2015/01/25/ccci-hold-workshop-customer-satisfaction-388510
*Sunday, January 25, 2015
:(PR)
IN LINE with the commitment of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) to develop programs to strengthen the capabilities of its members and in anticipation of the Asean Economic Integration this year, the group will hold a workshop on customer satisfaction.
CCCI and AGF Philippines will conduct a seminar on “Effective Customer Retention and Satisfaction” on Jan. 30, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Golden Valley Hotel on A. Pelaez St., Cebu City.
Marketing managers, sales executives and customer relations supervisors will gain the knowledge and skills to manage their customers more effectively through the seminar.
Research has shown that customer relationship management redounds to customer satisfaction and loyalty and leads to increasing revenues and long-term profitability.
At the end of the seminar, participants will learn how to identify and assess customer expectations to meet customer need, set customer service standards to ensure that customers receive a consistent experience, manage customer expectations to increase customer satisfaction, resolve issues in accordance with organizational procedures and maintain and improve relationships to enhance customer retention.
Registration fee is P2,250 for CCCI members; P2,500 for non-CCCI members and P2,000.00 per participant for a group of five or more. The rates are inclusive of training/seminar kits, certificates of attendance, lunch and morning and afternoon snacks.
==Diabetes center for each village==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2015/01/24/diabetes-center-each-village-388433
*Saturday, January 24, 2015
:By Razel V. Cuizon
THE Cebu City Government will require all barangays to establish a diabetes care center in their health centers within the year.
The Council approved the ordinance mandating the diabetes care center in each of the city's 80 barangays, drafted by Councilors Lea Japson and Alvin Arcilla.
According to the Council, there is an increase in the number of people with diabetes.
"Diabetes in the Philippines is a growing health problem that has affected the lives of 9.7 percent of the adult population in 2012 and the rate is (continuously) increasing in the country," the ordinance read.
By 2030, there will be a projected increase of 6.16 million diabetic Filipinos, Japson and Arcilla quoted some health experts.
:Diagnostic and prevention
Under the new measure, the facility in each barangay will be provided with equipment, devices and personnel to conduct diabetes diagnosis and prevention.
The head of the City Health Department (CHD) is mandated to issue guidelines for the operations of the facility.
CHD will also coordinate with the barangay officials and health workers and other related government agencies to conduct an information awareness of the causes and effects of diabetes.
"In line with Proclamation No. 213, the CHD, in coordination with the Public Information Office, shall facilitate the celebration of Diabetes Awareness Week, which shall be observed every fourth week of July," the ordinance read.
The ordinance also requires CHD to set aside P5 million under its approved annual budget for the purchase of glucometers, test strips and for the initial operational cost of the diabetes care section in the health centers.
:Advantage
With the passage of the ordinance, Marylou Tirol, 52 who was diagnosed with diabetes more than five years ago said the facility will be advantageous to people like her.
"For monitoring purposes, it is very helpful to me and to others with diabetes because we can now go to our health centers instead of going to hospitals to have ourselves checked," she told Sun.Star Cebu.
It would also mean less expenses for them, said Tirol.
She hoped other local government units can also replicate the ordinance.
==Cebu City’s business permit one-stop shop collects P500M==
*Source: http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=3&rid=728406
*Friday, January 23, 2015
:(PNA), LAP/EB/
CEBU CITY, Jan. 23 (PNA) -- The Cebu City Government’s one-stop shop in SM City Cebu Trade Hall has collected P500 million as of January 21, the City Treasurer’s Office said.
Cebu City Treasurer Diwa Cuevas said the renewal of business permits, real property taxes, business taxes, and regulatory fees started on January 5 and will end Friday, January 23.
Cuevas said it is not possible to collect the P5 billion business tax revenue projected by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama in just a month.
Rama earlier challenged the treasurer’s office to collect P5 billion from the renewal of business permits, real property taxes, business taxes and regulatory fees this year.
Rama said this year will be an active one in looking for funds to support the P13.4-billion annual budget of the city.
Rama said he imposed a “no break policy” Friday, the last day of collection, because it is anticipated that an influx of taxpayers will be coming in.
He said he also requested SM City Cebu management to open their Trade Hall until midnight to accommodate taxpayers beating the deadline.
No extensions of renewal of business permits will be implemented although the one-stop shop will continue until January 31, Cuevas said.
Cuevas said the city government will still be accepting renewal of business permits after January 23, but a 25-percent penalty will be charged.
Starting Saturday, January 24, business owners will be asked to pay two-percent interest per month and 25 percent surcharge and late securing fees.
Cuevas warned that any business establishment that failed to renew after three consecutive notices will be closed.
==Firm donates P5M for CCMC project==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2015/01/21/city-scholars-allowance-raised-387914
*Thursday, January 22, 2015
:By Princess Dawn H. Felicitas
THE Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), the proponent of the proposed third bridge project that will connect Cebu City to Mactan Island, has donated P5 million to the City Government for the construction of the new Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).
That brings the total amount raised by the City for the project to P22.23 million.
The P5 million from MPTC, which is the tollway arm of the Manuel Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp, was turned over by MPTC president and chief executive officer Ramoncito Fernandez to Mayor Michael Rama yesterday.
:CSR program
In an interview, Fernandez said the donation is part of their corporate social responsibility program.
“It is a product of our intention to help, to extend assistance to the earthquake-torn CCMC hospital. Our intention really is to help the City rebuild the destroyed CCMC,” he said.
Asked if they were requested by the mayor to give financial assistance, Fernandez said MPTC was just looking for what kind of help the City needs.
“Rebuilding of the CCMC is one of the major parts when we were talking with the City.
Magandang project yung pag-rebuild sa (It’s a good project the) CCMC,” he said.
:Grateful
Rama, for his part, welcomed the donation.
“I thanked them for their generosity and for being part of the rebuilding of the ‘people’s hospital’,” he said.
MPTC equaled SM Prime Holdings Inc. last year.
The construction of the new CCMC, which will be a 10-story 409-bed facility, is pegged to cost P1.5 billion.
Aside from the donations, the City has already set aside P600 million for the project.
The City is constructing a new hospital after the old facility was heavily damaged by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit Visayas in October 2013.
==City scholars’ allowance raised==
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2015/01/21/city-scholars-allowance-raised-387914
*Wednesday, January 21, 2015
:By Princess Dawn H. Felicitas
THE Cebu City Government scholarship committee has doubled the school supplies allowance of the estimated 13,000 students covered under its scholarship program.
Councilor Alvin Dizon, a member of the committee being the chairperson of the City Council committee on education, said they raised last month the allowance of each scholar from P500 per semester or P1,000 per year to P1,000 per semester or P2,000 for one year.
Dizon said the scholarship committee decided to increase the school supplies allowance so it will be responsive to the needs of the students.
“It is also long overdue. The scholarship program has been implemented a long time ago (since 2010),” he said.
Because of this, Dizon filed a proposal to amend City Ordinance 2333, the Cebu City Scholarship Program.
Under the proposed measure, the scholarship committee will have the power to determine
the scholars’ allowance and increase them if needed.
“To ensure there is no abuse of discretion, any proposed increase will be approved by the City Council,” Dizon added.
:Support
During the public hearing on Dizon’s proposed measure yesterday, the scholarship coordinators of the more than 20 accredited schools in the city have expressed support.
Dr. Leonilo Oliva, head of the University of Cebu scholarship office, said the proposed legislation means there will be flexibility in the determination of the allowances of the scholars.
However, Oliva asked the City Government to make sure that the allowances will be released on time.
His statements were echoed by Roberto Base Jr., president of the Association of Scholarship Coordinators and head of the scholarship office of the Cebu Institute of Technology University (CIT-U).
He said that while schools promptly submit the requirements, such as list of students, the payment is several months delayed.
For school year 2014 to 2015, it was learned that the allowance of the scholars for the first semester was only received by the students last December.
Councilor Mary Ann delos Santos said it is a “mortal sin” to delay the allowances of the city scholars.
Dizon, for his part, told the council that the scholarship committee has already put a deadline for the executive department to release the allowances, which is one month after the enrollment.
:Meeting
On where the problem presently lies, Ida Yting, head of the scholarship committee, said it is with the City Accounting Department where documents usually get stuck for months.
The councilors then said there is a need to thresh out the problem. Because of this, they have scheduled an executive session with the scholarship committee, accounting office and the City Treasurer’s Office among others on Feb. 12.
On the newly-increased school supplies allowance, scholars Daisy Gabuya and Regil Garcia from CIT-U thanked the City for it, saying that the P500 is not enough to cover their needs.
Aside from getting notebooks and ballpens, they said they also shoulder the cost in the printing of their projects and research papers among many others.
According to Dizon, the increased allowance will be implemented starting school year 2015 to 2016. It will be covered under the City’s P372 million approved budget for the scholarship program this year.
==Sinulog 2015 challenging, successful==
==Sinulog 2015 challenging, successful==
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2015/01/20/1414811/sinulog-2015-challenging-successful
*Source: http://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2015/01/20/1414811/sinulog-2015-challenging-successful
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